Post by Thaddeus on Jul 28, 2014 5:15:31 GMT -5
The G-Type shuttle finally penetrated the Kuras Drift and roared down into the cold atmosphere of Kuras IV. Its solitary occupant was the 55 year old Jedi Knight Sish Balkk, who at this moment stared not out the window at rocky outcrops that he soared over but instead at the holomap. Which showed two blips, one was moving, that was the shuttle, and the stationary one was the smuggler's hold where the ship and its Jedi occupant were heading.
The Jedi High Council had learnt of the existence of one of the Sith Amulets used by Xoxaan - one of the first eleven Jedi who took the mantle of Lords of the Sith. These amulets created by and imbued with Sith magic, perhaps the most arcane and deadly expression of the Dark side of the Force, allowed their wearers to channel immense power. Such an item could not be allowed to fall into the hands of the renewed Sith Order, so Balkk was dispatched with instructions to either bring the amulet back to the temple where it could be locked away or to destroy it if this was impossible. Balkk was not prone to visions, his was the way of the Living Force, but his instincts told him as he approached the smuggler's hold that he would not be returning with the amulet.
The buildings of the smuggler's hold were decayed and ruined, the soil beneath some had caved in to reveal the myriad of tunnels that lay beneath. Those tunnels were the true hideout, they stretched out in all directions for miles. At its height this home away from home housed the beings of twenty vessels, all told nearly 200 people. Here the little fleet of smugglers scurried after a successful job, often times still with some of the cargo of their former employers. It was in this way that the Amulet of Xoxaan had found its way to the unassuming planet. Dust was kicked up as the shuttle made another pass, doors creaked in the wind, and the rotted-out wall of one building finally collapsed throwing up more dust. One would be forgiven for believing that this was an old holdout from at least a century ago, but Balkk knew for a fact that according to the Council this place was still a thriving den of villainy just weeks ago. Whatever wrought such decay left an indelible sense in the Force that flowed through the place, it was dark... very dark.
Balkk put the shuttle down a little bit away from the settlement, grabbing his robes from the chair he rose and with head ducked made his way out of the shuttle. Stepping onto the dirt in the frigid air of a Kuras morning Balkk made his way to the deserted settlement. In the Force he would be as bright beacon of light in all this darkness he knew, and as he felt the Force flow through him he grew serene and calm. He did not bother with searching the surface buildings, his instincts told him that the amulet lay further and deeper within the complex, like some necrotic heart. He jumped down one of the sinkholes using the Force to cushion his landing, as his clawed feet echoed on the metal flooring covered in a thin layer of dust he sensed something. Balkk hissed, and looked around closely for he was not alone...
The Jedi Knight grinned a little at the prospect of combat, the presence was dark and powerful, it would be an honourable victory. Balkk's odd philosophical amalgamation of the religion of the Scorekeeper and the Force meant that for Balkk to perform the warrior duties of a Jedi Knight was the greatest privilege. But even still he knew the amulet must come first, and so his hand never strayed down to his saber, he did not stalk off to find the presence. No with as little difference in his pace as if he had been walking the halls of the Temple Balkk slowly set off towards the distant epicentre of the Dark maelstrom.
The Jedi High Council had learnt of the existence of one of the Sith Amulets used by Xoxaan - one of the first eleven Jedi who took the mantle of Lords of the Sith. These amulets created by and imbued with Sith magic, perhaps the most arcane and deadly expression of the Dark side of the Force, allowed their wearers to channel immense power. Such an item could not be allowed to fall into the hands of the renewed Sith Order, so Balkk was dispatched with instructions to either bring the amulet back to the temple where it could be locked away or to destroy it if this was impossible. Balkk was not prone to visions, his was the way of the Living Force, but his instincts told him as he approached the smuggler's hold that he would not be returning with the amulet.
The buildings of the smuggler's hold were decayed and ruined, the soil beneath some had caved in to reveal the myriad of tunnels that lay beneath. Those tunnels were the true hideout, they stretched out in all directions for miles. At its height this home away from home housed the beings of twenty vessels, all told nearly 200 people. Here the little fleet of smugglers scurried after a successful job, often times still with some of the cargo of their former employers. It was in this way that the Amulet of Xoxaan had found its way to the unassuming planet. Dust was kicked up as the shuttle made another pass, doors creaked in the wind, and the rotted-out wall of one building finally collapsed throwing up more dust. One would be forgiven for believing that this was an old holdout from at least a century ago, but Balkk knew for a fact that according to the Council this place was still a thriving den of villainy just weeks ago. Whatever wrought such decay left an indelible sense in the Force that flowed through the place, it was dark... very dark.
Balkk put the shuttle down a little bit away from the settlement, grabbing his robes from the chair he rose and with head ducked made his way out of the shuttle. Stepping onto the dirt in the frigid air of a Kuras morning Balkk made his way to the deserted settlement. In the Force he would be as bright beacon of light in all this darkness he knew, and as he felt the Force flow through him he grew serene and calm. He did not bother with searching the surface buildings, his instincts told him that the amulet lay further and deeper within the complex, like some necrotic heart. He jumped down one of the sinkholes using the Force to cushion his landing, as his clawed feet echoed on the metal flooring covered in a thin layer of dust he sensed something. Balkk hissed, and looked around closely for he was not alone...
The Jedi Knight grinned a little at the prospect of combat, the presence was dark and powerful, it would be an honourable victory. Balkk's odd philosophical amalgamation of the religion of the Scorekeeper and the Force meant that for Balkk to perform the warrior duties of a Jedi Knight was the greatest privilege. But even still he knew the amulet must come first, and so his hand never strayed down to his saber, he did not stalk off to find the presence. No with as little difference in his pace as if he had been walking the halls of the Temple Balkk slowly set off towards the distant epicentre of the Dark maelstrom.
